Gartner reverses stance on iPhone for business |
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By Ed Hardy, Editor-in-Chief
01 May 2008 | Brighthand.com |
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This article originally appeared on Brighthand.com.
Following Apple's announcement to support Exchange ActiveSync for the iPhone, Gartner has changed its recommendation concerning whether or not the iPhone is appropriate for the enterprise. With this upgrade, business users will have a secure method to check email and calendars and to sync with computer based applications, features that have caused Gartner to change its tune.
When the iPhone was first released, the IT analysis firm Gartner discouraged its use by businesses. However, a recent announcement by Apple has caused Gartner to change its tune.
As it stands now, the iPhone can only receive email by IMAP and POP3, which are inherently insecure methods of sending messages. Most businesses will not enable these services because they make the email server too vulnerable to outside attack.
However, a few weeks ago Apple announced a significant upgrade for this smartphone's software that will bring support for Exchange ActiveSync to the iPhone, a far more secure method of sending email.
That's why Gartner has upgraded its recommendation for this device. It now recommends "appliance-level" support, which means the firm suggests companies give it to their employees to keep track of their contacts and schedules, check email, access the web, and, of course, make phone calls.
More secure, more features
Support for Exchange ActiveSync will bring more than just additional security to the iPhone.
"The iPhone will have out-of-the-box connectivity with Exchange Servers for push email, contacts, and calendars, as well as important security features enterprise customers demand," Philip Schiller, Apple's senior vice president of Worldwide Product Marketing, said recently.
Once this upgrade has been released Gartner predicts that the "iPhone will become a popular tool alongside BlackBerry and Microsoft devices."
However, it's important to note that these benefits won't be available until Apple releases the next version of the iPhones system software, currently scheduled for June.
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